The arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park has prompted an unusual and controversial curtailment of public access to the surrounding estate, according to local reports. The newly installed security measures have restricted access to extensive areas of previously open land, leaving some residents frustrated and dismayed.
William and Catherine moved into Forest Lodge in November 2025, earlier than anticipated, citing the property as their long-term family home. The Georgian-style Grade II-listed residence, which boasts more than three centuries of history, is understood to be valued at approximately £16 million and includes extensive grounds with a paddock, tennis court, and a private lake. The couple’s three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – are expected to benefit from the privacy and space the estate affords.
Yet the relocation has not been without its local complications. Approximately 150 acres of woodland and fields surrounding Forest Lodge, once accessible to walkers, dog owners, and the public at large, have been closed under the newly enforced security protocols. The Home Office has reportedly designated a 2.3-mile personal exclusion zone around the property, with trespassing within this perimeter now liable to arrest.
Local residents have described the closures as a considerable disruption to their routines. Tina, who has walked the Cranbourne Gate route for 15 years, remarked that the changes were sudden and unexpected. “One morning in September, we discovered that the fields we had long enjoyed were off-limits,” she said. “It was disheartening, particularly for those of us who thought the park was open to the public.”
The Crown Estate issued notification of the closures just days before they came into effect, citing the need to secure the Prince and Princess of Wales’ residence. Work on the property prior to the move – ranging from the planting of hedges to the installation of fencing, resurfacing of the driveway, and the erection of surveillance cameras – had hinted at significant changes, residents noted.
While the exclusion zone has been described officially as relatively limited, in practice the restrictions have impacted thousands of acres of parkland, encompassing footpaths and informal recreational areas. Forest Lodge itself, though part of Windsor Great Park, does not belong privately to the Royal Family, but the Crown Estate administers the property on their behalf, allowing for enhanced security arrangements.
A spokesperson for the estate confirmed that the measures were “implemented to ensure the safety of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children,” emphasising that the protocols align with standard procedures for members of the Royal Family. They added that the exclusion zone had been established in accordance with security assessments and legal frameworks governing public access.
